Donovan Dent's 'game-winning plays' push Corona Centennial to first-ever boys basketball state title

Dent scored 21 points in the Huskies' 59-50 win over Modesto Christian.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Corona Centennial almost blew it. At the beginning of the fourth quarter of Saturday night's Open Division state championship against Modesto Christian, the Huskies couldn't score.

• GAME RECAP

Heading into the final frame, Corona Centennial led 46-37, but three and half minutes into the fourth, Modesto Christian tied the game 46-46 with two free throws from Prince Oseya.

That's when Donovan Dent went into what Huskies' head coach Josh Giles called "game time" mode. Coming out of a timeout, Dent willed Centennial to the school's first ever CIF State championship during the game's final three and a half minutes. 

First he connected on a floater to give the Huskies a 48-46 lead. Then after Modesto Christian tied the game again thanks to two more free throws from Oseya, Dent scored two straight layups putting Centennial ahead for good. 

"He makes game-winning plays and I don't know how you replace that," Giles said of Dent. 

Dent also assisted on the Huskies' final basket of the game drawing two defenders his way before threading a pass to a cutting Aaron McBride for a dagger dunk. Corona Centennial ended the game on a 13-4 run to win 59-50. 

Dent has battled a lingering knee issue in Corona Centennial's last few postseason games and it was clearly bothering him again on Saturday. After he had a shot blocked early in the fourth quarter he grimaced, hobbling around trying to shake off the pain.

The New Mexico signee credited adrenaline with being able to stay on the floor.

"That's all it was," Dent said. 

"He's just a tough kid who's not afraid of the moment and plays incredibly hard," Giles added. 

BITTERSWEET VICTORY

Dent and Corona Centennial's other senior contributor Ramsey Huff mean so much to Giles that when asked what the two have contributed to the program this year during the Huskies' postgame press conference, Giles began to break down.

All he could say was "they're just winners" through tears.

Dent led Corona Centennial with 21 points in the game and Huff added two. Huff guarded Modesto Christian's top offensive player Jamari Phillips for large stretches in the game. 

"This team has been a coach's dream," Giles said. 

PHOTO GALLERY

(All photos by Dennis Lee)

Photo by Dennis Lee

Photo by Dennis Lee

Photo by Dennis Lee

Photo by Dennis Lee